Bangladesh: Record fuel hike trigger huge queues, 13-hour electricity blackouts

Thousands of Bangladeshis besieged fuel stations across the country after the government raised prices by as much as 52 per cent, the largest jump on record, on the back of higher oil prices.

Russia's attack on Ukraine has seen global energy prices soar, though oil has fallen back in recent weeks as recession fears mount.

Dhaka announced Friday that the price of petrol was going up by 51.7 per cent and diesel by 42.5 per cent from midnight.

Motorcycle riders raced to fuel stations nationwide to try and fill up before the price rise went into effect. Some stations paused sales, and sporadic protests broke out.

Demonstrators said the increases would disproportionately hit the country's tens of millions of poor people, who use diesel to power transport and farming irrigation pumps.

In Sylhet, retailers tried to impose the higher prices immediately after the hike was announced, Police Commissioner Md. Nisharul Arif told AFP.

"People gathered and protested in front of all the fuel pumps in Sylhet city."

There were similar protests in other cities.

Energy minister Nasru Hamid told reporters the decision was driven by global markets.

"Some adjustments have to be made in view of the global situation. If the situation normalises, the fuel prices will be revised accordingly," he said.

The Bangladeshi taka has declined by around 20 per cent against the dollar in the past three months, further weakening the nation's finances - with the current account deficit hitting $17 billion.